Boeing's CST-100 Starliner spacecraft is gearing up for its much-anticipated launch in May, following a series of setbacks and safety concerns. The spacecraft is scheduled to transport NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry "Butch" Wilmore to the International Space Station (ISS) on its maiden crewed mission.

During a recent press briefing, representatives from Boeing expressed confidence in the resolution of the issues that had caused the delays. Two major safety hazards with the spacecraft were discovered, relating to its parachutes and protective tape.

The first concern centered around the load capacity of the Starliner's three parachutes, crucial for a safe descent. It was discovered that the fabric sections of the parachutes had a lower failure load limit than expected. If one parachute were to fail, the remaining two would not be sufficient to slow down the vehicle during landing in New Mexico.

The second concern involved the discovery that the protective tape used to cover the wiring harnesses inside the Starliner was flammable. Boeing took swift action to address the issue, either removing the tape, implementing barriers, or identifying areas where the tape was not susceptible to the flammability risk. Nearly a mile of tape has been removed, and about 85 to 90 percent of the areas where the tape was installed have been appropriately mitigated.

To meet NASA's safety standards, Boeing also developed a new parachute system, ensuring all necessary paperwork is in place for the upcoming launch.

This mission holds great significance for Boeing as it marks the company's first crewed trip to the ISS. It will also be the first Starliner launch since the spacecraft's uncrewed test flight suffered an anomaly in May 2022, when an orbital maneuvering thruster experienced unexpected failure. Additionally, in a previous uncrewed test in 2019, the Starliner failed to dock with the ISS, leading to further testing and troubleshooting.

Boeing holds a $4.3 billion contract with NASA's Commercial Crew Program, tasked with transporting astronauts and cargo to and from the ISS. While NASA has relied heavily on SpaceX in recent years for such transportation, having Boeing's Starliner as an additional transportation system is of significant importance to the space agency.

NASA had previously relied on Russia's Soyuz crew ship, but rising costs and escalating tensions led to a push for commercial alternatives from U.S. soil. SpaceX successfully landed its seventh crew back on Earth recently after spending 199 days in space, solidifying its position as an established commercial partner for NASA.

Once Boeing's Starliner successfully reaches the ISS with a crew on board, NASA will be able to rely on both of its commercial partners for these critical orbital trips, reducing the need to purchase seats from Russia. As NASA continues to expand its collaboration with commercial entities, the successful launch and operations of the Starliner will play a vital role in securing autonomous access to space for American astronauts.